GHM REPORT TO ERRC NO 53: 29/3/1999

JANUARY 1999 ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE GHM ROMA OFFICE

January 5:
We contacted Avgi journalist, Ms. Dimitra Kokkotaki, who wrote the article «National Policy on Roma... and Other Greek Fairy Tales» (Avgi, 3/1/1999). Ms. Kokkotaki informed us that despite her efforts she had not been able to meet the Minister of Health and Social Care, who is responsible for the coordination and the implementation of the Framework of a National Policy on Greek Roma. Ms. Kokkotaki was given a written account of the measures already taken. This account, however, leaves lots of open questions. In June 1996 the Greek Government announced a Framework of a National Policy on Greek Roma admitting that the basic needs and problems of Greek Roma had not been solved, despite the age-old presence of Roma in Greece. The Framework was accompanied by a 3-billion-drachma grant for two years and by a program aimed against the social exclusion of the Roma. A consultative and coordinating governmental Council for Roma Policy comprised of representatives from public and local authorities, health organizations, Roma and others. The Council’s main responsibility was to implement the Framework. The priorities of the program were: improvement of the housing conditions both of nomads and of Roma living in settlements; access to the Greek educational system; athletics and culture, with the emphasis given to the preservation of the Roma culture; professional education; health care (medical examinations, mobile cabinets); an informative campaign about the acquisition of identity cards. A thorough examination of the written account of the Minister of Health and Social Care stated that little, if anything, has been done. Ms. Kokkotaki poses a lot of questions, which she was never able to pose to the Minister: First, the Council for Roma Policy has not been created yet. This means that there is no central body, so the road is open to improvisations and overlapping. Second, even if the funds for some works on Roma housing have been authorized, have any of these works been implemented? Third, what happened to the booklet of the pupil? Fourth, what is the criterion for the programs on professional education? Fifth, when will Roma have the ‘luxury’ to fall ill? Sixth, are the existing censuses on Roma used or more money will be spent for having new ones? Seventh, were the 3 billion drachmas for the implementation of the program ever given? Finally, there are rumors about squandering in the past. The case with a program for educating Roma on the gathering of citrus fruits in Thessalia -where no citrus crop thrives- is indicative. Twenty four billion drachmas are to be given by the European Union (the Greek State participates with 20%) for social programs for various social groups (two billion are targeted to the Roma, as well as to the linguistic, cultural and religious minorities). The Government asserts that it has taken strict measures to control the proper management of the funds, so as cases like the one mentioned above never happen again and the funds cover the real needs of the Roma.

January 7:
The Center for Support of Children and Families is the only center in Greece helping street children. They teach the children not only how to read and write, but also something more important, i.e. how to behave in society. Five minutes after I walked through the door of the Center, a volunteer teacher and a 12-year-old kid returned from a nice lunch they had at a restaurant. The child was very kind. He thanked the teacher and happily returned to his studies. The teacher explained to me that every now and then the children are taken to the theater, to museums, to sports activities and other social events, in order to make them feel part of the community. In the past this would have been difficult, but now -thanks to the kindness of donors- the Center has a car, making it possible for more than one child to be transported. Thirty to fifty children visit the Center every day. Most of these children are Roma, but there are also others from Albania, Macedonia and the FRY. Most of them are Muslim and live in extreme poverty in the nearby Metaxourgio area. Ms. Lemou wanted me to see the new building, which will offer more convenient conditions. It is important to point out that the Center gets no financial help from the government and is entirely dependent on volunteer workers and donations. We also discussed another major problem concerning education. Schools usually refuse to accept Roma children, because Greece lacks a multicultural education system to provide special education to new-comers and minorities. That is why most teachers lack the knowledge of how to handle such particular cases.

12 January:
Nothing has changed much in the reconstruction of the Aspropirgos barracks. The only thing that has changed is the fact that a few new families moved in. Water supply is still a problem. At the threshold of the 20th century, there are still people close to us who do not have even water. They do not have electricity and live in cardboard shacks. On cold days they shiver like helpless animals. When it rains they suffer from floods, which drown them but nobody takes any real interest in them. They have to buy bottled water, but the question still remains as to what exactly to use this valuable commodity for? (to cook, to shower the children, to do the laundry, or to save it as drinking water). Doctors of the World is the only organization which visits the barracks. The organization helps the Roma by providing them with vaccines and other health services. In spite of their efforts, however, diseases such as hepatitis A, B and C, measles, mumps, rubella, etc. still exist. Scabies is also widespread. Due to the poor sanitary conditions, these people’s health remains vulnerable. Doctors of the World and Greek Helsinki Monitor try to help the settlements by pressuring the Mayor to provide the people with water.